Salt & Straw PDX: You Affogato Go To There

Fresh off their coronation at the hands of Oprah’s minions, the popular Portland ice cream scoop shop Salt & Straw have opened their second location in Portland’s Alphabet District. Why are we writing about it? Because this time around, S&S owner Kim Malek has put into place a pretty serious coffee program, with Stumptown espresso, whole bean offerings, and a menu featuring confectionary signature drinks inspired by the USBC.

The first step through the door is met by a beautiful cream and steel La Marzocco GB5, originally featured at Coffee Common’s installation for TED Long Beach. In addition to classic espresso offerings, the shop worked closely with Stumptown to create flavors like salted caramel with fleur de sel, five spice cinnamon with fennel pollen, and toasted white chocolate ganache with almond. These complex dessert menu coffees are meant to compliment the flavors of Hairbender espresos, and serve to further elevate the blood sugar of patrons enjoying ice cream selections such as Arbequina olive oil, sea salt with caramel ribbon, honey balsamic with cracked pepper, and this season’s special, the Lena Dunham gummi ennui caramelized Moroccan lemon sherbert.